Our Care

Acute Burn Care

A burn injury can be devastating. However, patients treated in a specialty burn care center often have better outcomes. The premise and promise of the burn center has been to never turn away a patient in need of specialized burn care.

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Breast Reconstruction

Breast plastic surgeries are minimally invasive procedures that restore and improve the size, shape and position of the breasts. Options for these surgeries include reconstruction, augmentation (enlargement), reduction and lift.

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Frostbite

The specialty of burn care is not relegated to chemical, electrical, flame and scald injuries. At BRCC, our team of highly-trained and experienced surgeons and plastic/reconstruction specialists are also trained in the most advanced treatment and management of cold injuries, which can help prevent amputation.

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Hand & Extremity Injuries

The hand and lower arm are complex areas that require a skilled assessment and treatment plan. Our team of hand specialists treat cases ranging from traumatic injuries to simple sprains 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Laser scar revisions can assist with loosening of scars to improve range of motion, decrease itching and pain from scars and offer an improved appearance of the scarred area.

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Outpatient Clinic

We provide coordinated care with a team of skilled and experienced professionals that includes surgeons, certified wound specialists, nurses, physical & occupational therapists, nutrition counselors and social services coordinators.

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Reconstructive Surgery

Our custom treatment plans improve the aesthetics, form and function of our burn patients. We incorporate the use of skin substitutes, grafting, tissue expansion, laser therapy, flap reconstruction and microsurgery to help rehabilitate burned victims.

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Skin & Soft Tissue Disorders

Consultation and management of skin and soft tissue disorders, including Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Necrotizing Fasciitis to wounds such as diabetic ulcers and cellulitis.

For appointments, please call (303) 695-2693 between the hours of 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday. After hours and on the weekends, please call (855) 863-9595.

Visiting Hours:11am - 8:30pmVisiting Hours, ICU:Visitation hours are 24 hours, with the exception of 7am - 8am and 7pm - 8pmParking: Valet Parking ($3) is available at the main entrance of the hospital

Burn Facts

CLASSIFY BURN IN TERMS OF DEGREES:

These burns only include the outer layer for skin (the dermis), and are marked by red, pink or dark pink skin. The burns are usually painful, but there are no blisters and will heal in a week or so.

Second Degree (also called Partial Thickness)

These burns progress deeper into the dermis and may includes large blisters and may have a wet appearance. These burns will take 14-21 days to heal.

Third Degree (also called Full Thickness)

These burns may have a charred appearance, be leathery or white in color and feel dry to the touch. Often, the burned areas will lose sensation and include the entire depth of skin. Healing will likely require skin grafts and rarely more intensive methods.

Fourth Degree (also called Full Thickness)

These burns progress down to muscles, tendons and bones. Often, skin grafts, intensive surgeries and even amputations may be required for healing.

What Should You Do Right After a Burn?

Remove ALL clothing and jewelry.

Run cool water over the burn for several minutes.

Do not place any home remedies including butter, ointments or ice on burned areas.

Do not use cotton balls or wool to clean a burn.

Do not burst any blisters.

Cover the burn with a clean bandage or clean cloth.

Call 911 if the burn is:

deep (large broken blisters)

involves the face, genitalia or a large body surface area (such as the entire chest, an arm, a leg or more)

For pain, take ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

Treating Third and Fourth Degree Burns

Both almost always require skin grafting and/or some type of surgery. In many cases, fourth degree burns will also require some level of amputation to ensure the best possible outcome.

These burns usually take at least four to six weeks to heal, depending on the size of the burn it may be longer.

They also require expertise in excisions that is only available in a burn center. Both rehabilitation and long-term scar management modalities should be part of the care plan.

Education

Light fireworks one at a time in a designated area, away from dry grass, homes and children.

Fireworks should never be fired indoors.

Designate someone as the safety person, someone as the “shooter” and someone to be in charge of keeping children clear of the “shooting” area.

Make sure the “shooter” is not wearing loose clothing that could ignite, and follows all directions on the fireworks label. If the device does not have a warning and/or instructions label, do not fire it.

Never stand over an item that does not fire.

Never throw fireworks. A malfunctioning fuse could cause the item to go off in your hand.

Get a flashlight to light the area so the “shooter” can see what he or she is doing.

Ensure a fire extinguisher, hose or bucket of water is nearby just in case there is an accident.

Keep pets and animals away as they may be frightened by the noise.

Tips to stay safe from lightning:

If you are close enough to the storm to hear thunder, you are close enough to get struck by lightning.

Safe shelters include homes, large buildings, or hard-topped vehicles. Never use tall trees as a shelter or stay in open water if you hear thunder.

If you are indoors, avoid using water, electronic equipment and corded telephones. Stay away from windows and doors.

If no shelter is available, do not lie down on the ground. Instead, crouch as low and tight as you can.

Frequently Asked Questions

Accepted Insurances

We accept the following insurances at Burn and Reconstructive Centers of Colorado, PC. If you do not see your insurance company listed below, or unsure if your insurance provider will be accepted, please call 855-863-9595 and ask for Insurance Enrollment.

Aetna / Coventry

BlueCross BlueShield

Bright Health

Cigna

Cofinity

Department of Labor

Humana

Kaiser Permanente

Medicaid

Medicare

Multiplan

PHCS

Rocky Mountain Health Plan

TRICARE

United Healthcare

Veterans Choice

How Do I Make An Appointment?

Swedish Medical Center

For appointments, please call 303-788-6466 between the hours of 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday. After hours and on the weekends, please call 855-863-9595.

Medical Center of Aurora

For appointments, please call 303-695-2693 between the hours of 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday. After hours and on the weekends, please call 855-863-9595.

Where Can I Stay Near the Burn Center?

There are numerous hotels nearby, including some that provide shuttle service to and from the hospital.

At this time, there are no skin banks or medical facilities in America who accept skin from live donors.

How Long Is a Patient Usually in the Burn Center?

It varies. The length of stay depends on the percentage of body burned, depth of burn (2nd or 3rd degree) and other medical complications involved (such as diabetes, heart disease, etc.). Typically, patients who experience a burn to a larger portion of their body can expect to stay in the hospital 1-day per percentage of Total Body Surface Area covered by the burn. You may hear Total Burn Surface Area referred to as TBSA.

Will There Be Scarring?

Most second-degree burns heal with minimal scarring and pigmentation does return. All third degree burns must be grafted with the individual’s own skin, therefore a scar is likely.

What can a family do to prepare for the patient’s return home?

Discharge planning begins at admission with early identification of discharge needs. A case manager and social worker prepare the family for discharge.

My loved one does not have medical insurance, what can I do to help them?

Trained professional, financial counselors are available at the hospital to assist with possible funding programs.

Do I have to wait for my loved one to make a Social Security disability application?

Make sure that you do not have anything to eat or drink at least 6 hours before coming to the clinic to be seen for your burn or wound. This includes water, hard candy, mints, ice chips, or chewing gum.

Do go over your medications with the staff at the clinic.

Please make sure that you have a responsible adult with you that can stay with you and drive you home. The drugs and or anesthesia you receive will make it unsafe for you to drive a car. If you are using a cab or public transportation you must have a responsible adult with you.

AFTER YOUR OPERATION

After your surgery, you will be given an instruction sheet at the time of discharge. This sheet will provide information regarding your burn or wound care, and signs and symptoms to watch for after you are discharged.

When you are discharged, there will be a dressing that contains a slow release antibiotic. This dressing needs to stay dry and intact until you return to the clinic. Do not remove the dressing.

You may experience some drainage from your burn or wound site. The color may be a darker brown, reddish brown or yellowish brown. This is normal.

If needed, you can reinforce the dressing with clean dry gauze and tape. Remember: You can’t take any of the dressings away, but you can add to them.

If the burn or wound is on your arm or leg, keep it elevated or propped up to reduce the swelling.

Events

Established in 2007, the Joseph M. Still Burn Symposium is an annual gathering of medical professionals dedicated to the constant improvement of burn care in America. With sessions presented by leading experts and the availability of educational credits, the Symposium provides your company with a specific, targeted audience.

Resources

The American Burn Association is dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by burn injury. Its members dedicate their efforts and resources to promoting and supporting burn-related research, education, care, rehabilitation, and prevention.

The International Association of Burn Camps (IABC) provides a network for the mutual benefit of local and regional organizations that serve the burn community. IABC seeks to support the physical, social, and psychological needs of burn survivors and their families.

A community dedicated to assisting burn survivors, their loved ones, health professionals, and firefighters. The Phoenix Society’s promise is simple but powerful: "You are not alone. You can get back to living." The society helps in providing caring people to share the journey and resources to make it easier.

UBelong is a unique four-day experience for young burn survivors, their siblings and parents, or children of burn survivors offered within Phoenix World Burn Congress, run by a collaborative team of experts from around the country.

Foundation

BRCA FOUNDATION

The BRCA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving patient care, supporting patients and families after they have been discharged from one of our centers, and facilitating education about burn, wound and hand care throughout various medical communities.

Mission StatementThe healing and helping of patients goes far beyond the walls of our burn centers. The BRCA Foundation is committed to helping patients and their families, while continuously working to improve care throughout the world.

Our foundation was founded on three guiding principles:

Patient Support

Education & Scholarship

Community Outreach

To learn more about us or find out how you can help support our mission, please email: [email protected]

All donations to Burn Foundation of America Foundation are tax deductible.